Game apparatus



Aug.. 14, 419m www K. J. EVANS GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1927 yy Mmmm,

%e @@Q//f/ i d @M Patented ug. 14, i928.

.y 'au sri KEITH J'. EVANS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed February 21, 1927. Serial No.169,794.

My invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and consists ofthe following features and advantages..

well known game of basket ball, but by use of which the game may be played in the home-without any danger of damage being wroughtby contact of the. ball. or balloon withV pieces of furniture and the like.

A further object of lthe invention is to provide a game apparatus of extreme compactness informY when the game is not in use. This feature greatly facilitates the shippillg and handling of the apparatus prior to use.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a game apparatus a balloon constructed of a single piece of soft rubber, and representing a basket ball, in which novel means is employed for maintaining the neck or air port of the balloon within the bounds ofthe external surface of the balloon when inflated. l

,A further objectof the invention is to provide in a game apparatus novel means for substantially rigidly supporting the loop or basket member in a horizontal plane during the use of the game. j

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully from the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views. j In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the game apparatus set up and in use. Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line Y 22 of Fig. 1. f Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views through a portion of the balloon, illustrating the means for confining the neck within the bounds of the external surface of the balloon. Y

In carrying out my invention I make us of a rectangularr cardboard box 1,' having shallow side walls 2. l also provide a cover for the box, which is not shown, for use when the various parts of the apparatus are coniined within the box, as in transporting the game and during such times as the game is not in use.

VThe apparatus so confined within the box consists ina loop corresponding to the bas ket use-l in basket ball., as shownat 3, hatzn ing a twisted neck portion 4 i formed by twisting the adjacent ends ofI the wire forming the loop, and diverging legs 5 at the outer portion of the twisted neck 4, the legs 5 each terminating in an eyelet 6. This loop or basket member, when still within the box 1, lies in a single plane. The degree bend at the inner end of the neck, as shown at 7, is not formed until such time as the game is to be set up for use.`

A plurality of rubber balloons, one of which is shown at 8, rubber bands 9, and gummed stickers 10 are alsoconfined within the box.

The means for fixing the loop or basket to the box 1 consists in threev strands of picture wire l1. and three metal washers'12, which are employed in the manner hereinafter described.

The first step in setting up the apparatus is that of bending the loop or basket, as shown at 7, the length of the twisted portion 4 being about 21/4n inches. The box 1 is then turned with its bottom surface 13 outwardly, and the loop is secured to the bottom surface of the box by projecting picture wire 11 through holes 14 punched through the bottom wall of the box. The picture Wire 11 encompasses the base ofthe diverging legs 8 5, is projected through the adjacent hole 14, through a washer 12, and is twisted so as to prevent the withdrawalof the wire therethrough. In like manner the other two strands of picture wire are passed through the eyes 6 and through adjacent holes 14 and washers 12, and secured by twisting the wire at the rear of' the washer.

The loop or basketis now held on a horizontal plane and substantially rigid.

It will be noted that the box lY performs a double function, that of confining the parts when the game is not in use. and that of supplying a substantially rigid support. This latter feature is due to the integral side walls 2 of the box. The box is supported in any well known manner upon the wall, at a height determinable by the age or size of the players.

First the balloons are inflated by blowing air through their neck portions 15. When the balloon has been inflated toa diameter slightly lessthan the diameter of the loop 3, the rubber band 9 is tightly wound about the neck 15 so as to confine the air within the balloon. j

The neck i5 is than pinar-naad manuali? llt) into the adjacent yielding surface ot' the balloon, as shown in Fig. 4, and a guinmed stickerr 10 is secured to the surrounding surfaces ot the balloon and there held until the adhesive material of the sticker dries sufliciently to hold the sticker in place. j

I have thus provided a balloon ot' a single piece o'tl material which when inflated does not possess any external protruding portions or members, which might prevent i'ree movement of the balloon through the loop 3.`

In use,any one ot several rules may be carried out', corresponding to the rules employed in basket ball, with the exception that no playeris allowed to hold or advance the ball. The ball may be projected above the loop and pernii'ttedto drop through, or it t may be projected up through the loop.

I claim-` t l. Game apparatus comprisinga shallow box` having a substantially fiat bottom Wall, a Wire loop having a radially extending neck and diverging leg portions at the outer end of the neck, said loop when in use having its neckyportion' bentat an angle of ninety de- Wall, a circular loop having a radially ex# tending neck with portions ot the neck constructed forattachment to the external bottom wall ot the box, said loopzwhen -inV use having its" neckportion bent atan angle ot QOVdegrees at that-end adjacent to the loop andan inflatable balloon for-projection when inflated through said loop,'s`aid boxabeing of Abending' of its neckv such contouras 'to fconne'all of the parts of the apparatus when notin use including the loopy prior to the bending o'i its neck.

ln Witnessn'hereot, I hereunto subscribe my naine this 19th day of February, 1927.

italiana, Evans. 

